Free Annual Credit Reports - Tips on How to Get Them

Overview

Reviewing your annual credit reports is vital to ensuring your credit is in excellent standing and accurately reported. You'll find 3 primary credit bureaus that store your credit data; Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These bureaus do not report your payment history and data; rather they store the data that other people report (banks, utilities, etc.).

It is critical to get your free annual credit report from all three bureaus since they differ slightly within the manner in which they report your data. Normally times, the reports are comparable, if not identical. On the other hand, it can only take one reporting error on any one of the 3 reports to trigger you grief.

Acquiring Your 3 Free Reports

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), all Americans are entitled to one free credit report from each of the aforementioned credit bureaus. At the least, you need to access these 3 free reports once per year.

Other Techniques to Get a Free Credit Report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion

Additionally to your guaranteed three free annual reports mentioned above, you can also get a free credit report from the three bureaus when any of the following scenarios occur.

- You might be on welfare.
- You were denied credit within the last 60 days.
- You're presently unemployed and seeking work within the next 60 days.
- You have had your identity stolen and have reported it to the police.

Where to Get Your Free Reports

In the event you wish to get your 3 free reports at one time, it is possible to go to annualcreditreport.com. This web page will give you your three free reports with no strings attached or credit monitoring trial.

You may also go to each of the credit bureaus internet sites and request your report by calling, emailing, or sending them a request via snail mail.

Whenever you get your free reports, you will not get your credit scores; the three digit FICO score that most of us wish to see. The credit score is normally used to speedily gage your credit health. Even though the credit report service can be a helpful tool, you may not want it. Not a dilemma. Merely cancel the monitoring service and poof; you might have your free reports and scores.